ENERGY EFFICIENCY IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR


Solar thermal technology harnesses the sun’s energy to provide heat directly at the point of use


Schools and hospitals are beginning to harness the power of the sun, not only to cut emissions but also to reduce energy costs.


Christophe Williams, CEO and founder of Naked Energy, examines how solar thermal systems can help


Solar thermal technology at the British Library


POWERING PROGRESS: SOLAR THERMAL AND THE PUSH FOR


PUBLIC SECTOR ENERGY EFFICIENCY N


atural gas prices are forecast to increase in 2025 and 2026, and this will remain volatile


due to uncertainty about the war in Ukraine and other ongoing conflicts. Renewable energy provides resilience against price rises and insulates us from further shocks. For the public sector it also reduces operational costs and frees up resources which can be redirected to teaching staff, healthcare provisions or community programmes. GB Energy’s recent announcement to invest


£180 million in solar panels for schools and hospitals marks a major milestone. These essential public buildings are often large and energy-intensive. They require a lot of electricity to run and usually have a high demand for hot water for space heating and sanitation. Typical photovoltaic (PV) solar installations


provide some of the electricity required but miss a vital component of the larger equation: heat. In the national race to decarbonise, the role of heat cannot be underestimated.


SOLAR THERMAL SYSTEMS Heating accounts for a staggering 37% of the UK’s total carbon emissions, of which the vast majority comes from space heating and industrial processes (31%). With a focus on electrification, the National Grid


is under immense pressure. There is already a well documented back-log of renewable energy projects waiting to get online and it is imperative we explore off-grid solutions to ease this. Solar thermal systems are a perfect solution to


this. Unlike PV panels that convert sunlight into electricity, solar thermal technology harnesses the sun’s energy to provide heat directly at the point of use. They are typically installed on rooftops and consist of collectors that absorb solar radiation and transfer the heat to a fluid – usually a water glycol mixture. It runs in a closed loop and transfers the heat to a heat exchanger, from which it can then be used directly or kept in a storage tank for later use. The technology provides an incredible efficiency boost for hospitals and schools, where hot water takes up a significant amount of their energy usage. In hospitals, cooking and hot water takes up about 17% of total energy, and for schools, heating hot water consumes about 40% of gas. Solar thermal is a particularly seamless solution


as it works even in cloudier conditions and can be integrated with existing boiler systems to replace or reduce gas consumption.


Solar thermal systems consist of collectors that absorb solar radiation and transfer the heat to a fluid


THE ADVANTAGES Solar thermal systems can lead to substantial savings over time, especially as energy prices remain volatile. There are Heat-as-a- Service arrangements that allow public sector institutions to install solar thermal with no upfront costs. These contracts also fix the cost of energy per kWh over 10 years. Public sector institutions operating under tight budgets can save a huge amount of money by not paying for the installation, which can be reinvested into frontline services and infrastructure. The fixed cost of energy also shields them from a repeat of the 2022 gas price shocks in the wake of the war in Ukraine that caused so much turmoil. This creates savings and security.


www.essmag.co.uk Importantly, solar thermal also provides zero-


carbon heat at the point of use, slashing fossil fuel use and related emissions. This is critical for achieving Net Zero goals while not adding additional strain to the grid. Solar thermal also provides an even greater


level of insulation against geopolitical tensions than other forms of renewable energy. It is a net European exporter, with a trade balance of +€550 million, whereas solar PV is almost exclusively imported from Asia, with a trade balance of -€5 billion. This is because China supplies 95% of the European solar PV market. At a time where Europe desperately needs


to become more self-sufficient, clearly this differential is going to have to be addressed – and solar thermal is a way to achieve this. It’s also a big boost for the UK specifically. There are plenty of businesses developing innovative and efficient grid-edge technologies to decarbonise commercial and industrial heat that do not rely on the grid. By investing in British businesses and homegrown talent we are creating a new wave of clean energy jobs.


LEADING THE WAY The transition to Net Zero is the biggest economic opportunity of our lifetimes and provides an ideal backdrop for the government to invest at home. With intelligent investments and a focus on heat as well as electricity, the UK can transform its public buildings into models of sustainability. Solar thermal collectors, though often overshadowed by their photovoltaic cousins, are crucial in this transformation. By tapping into the sun’s heat, solar thermal offers a scalable, proven, and low-maintenance route to reducing carbon emissions where it counts most. The time for pilot projects and piecemeal funding is


over. If the UK is to lead the world in the clean energy transition, then the heart of its communities –its schools and hospitals – must lead the way.


Naked Energy https://nakedenergy.com


ENERGY & SUSTAINABILITY SOLUTIONS - Summer 2025 21


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